by Alex Leone
From the outside looking in, Kabab Paradise looks like just another local restaurant on the corner of your street. As you walk in, you are immediately greeted with the inviting smells from the blocked-off kitchen. The dining room is stacked full of tables with even more chairs. With a slightly run-down bathroom combined with beaming overhead lights that buzz in the midst of silence, you know you’re about to have a good meal at Kabab Paradise. These things apply to any local small restaurant; however, it is the quality of food, service, and overall impact on the community that takes it from being good to great.
Kabab Paradise is one of the few restaurants without a miss on the entire menu. Each dish is similar in its style and culture but beautifully unique in flavor and texture. The menu is very long, so I have not been able to try each dish. What I have tried is nothing short of quality. There are 3 key dishes from Kabab Paradise that I order the most: the Honey BBQ Boneless Wings, Chicken Cheesesteak, and the Chicken Gyro Platter. Yes, as you can tell, I love chicken.
The boneless wings are the main meal I get. Each piece of chicken is extremely tender all while staying crispy and hot on the outside. It is then tossed in a perfect amount of barbecue sauce, not too much to make it soggy and not too little to not notice the flavor. This meal is an easy 10/10 because it is simple, fills you up, and is delicious.
The chicken cheesesteak is, as the name says, a cheesesteak but with chicken. It is still great with all the ingredients; however, I prefer it without mayonnaise or mushrooms. The chicken is cubed but juicy, which adds great texture and flavor. Seasoned and sautéed incredibly well are the onions and peppers, which complement the chicken greatly with cheese drizzled on. It is given a side of McDonald’s style fries which surpasses the mega food chain itself.
Its equal is the gyro platter, a mix of quality chicken, rice, sautéed onions, and carrots. On their own, each of these dishes is supreme and reflects the amazing quality of Kabab Paradise. There is one condiment that alone separates Kabab Paradise, that being their signature white sauce. It can go with any of the dishes, drizzle it on your chicken cheesesteak, use it as dipping sauce for your wings, or even drizzle it on your fries. The white sauce is an amazing compliment that reflects the great quality of the food at Kabab Paradise.
Of any restaurant, service and impact on the community go hand and hand. How you serve the people coming into your restaurant reflects on your community because people go around and share their experiences at your place. Kabab Paradise is a great example of this. As you walk in, it’s always the owner greeting you. He greets you with a smile and some small talk, allowing you to feel comfortable before you even sit down. The dining room is small, but there are enough tables with people to make it lively. Of course, the food comes out quickly and as mentioned before, as quality as it gets.
These attributes are the reason why it is one of the best and most popular spots in Lake Hiawatha. I grew up here, and I have known about Kabab Paradise before I even tried it. Ask anyone around town, they have at least heard of the place. My grandfather, owner of Sal’s Haircutting Salon just down the street from Kabab Paradise, has high praise for the spot, often going there for lunch during his breaks. It is one thing to have good food and service, however, it is another thing to have an impact on people, and Kabab Paradise has done just that.
The Drumbeat 